Gaza on the brink of explosion, Hamas warns
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh warned Monday that the Gaza Strip was on the brink of an ‘explosion’ because of the continued Palestinian power struggle between his group and the Palestinian Authority.
Israel
ISIS Focuses on U.S. Embassy Attacks, Kidnappings of Westerners
The weekly Islamic State newsletter that usually focuses on internal headlines within remaining caliphate territory devoted a section to discussing attacks on U.S. embassies and kidnappings of westerners in locales not usually touched by the terror group.
Netanyahu arrives in D.C. bruised but can gain from elections after AIPAC
The trip to Washington comes at a critical time for Netanyahu. He departed Israel on Saturday night, just one day after he and his wife, Sara, were questioned in the expanding Bezeq probe. Police have already recommended charging the prime minister with bribery in two other criminal investigations.
Coalition leaders warn gov’t on verge of collapse, elections by June
Senior coalition partners have reportedly warned that infighting over legislation exempting ultra-Orthodox students from military service will topple the government in the coming weeks, leading to new elections by mid-2018.
Iran will not discuss missile program until West dismantles nuclear weapons, says military official
Iran will not conduct talks on its ballistic missile program until the US and European countries dismantle their nuclear weapon arsenal, said an Iranian military official on Saturday. Speaking to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, the official claimed that the US’ criticism of Tehran’s program was driven by its own failures in the region.
U.S. slams UNHRC on Israel, Iran
The United States on Wednesday slammed the United Nations Human Rights Council for its biased treatment of Israel and for providing a platform to human rights abusers such as Iran.
Iran is playing with fire, Israeli defense official warns
Iran is ‘playing with fire’ in its efforts to entrench itself in Syria, Israel’s northern neighbor, a senior Israeli defense official warned Wednesday.
Report: US peace plan to include east Jerusalem as Palestinian capital
U.S. President Donald Trump’s Israel-Palestinian peace plan will call for an independent Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital, the London-based Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper reported Wednesday,
Israel aims to eliminate use of coal, gasoline and diesel by 2030
The Energy Ministry forecast Tuesday that within 12 years Israel would be fully reliant on natural gas and alternative fuels for the production of electricity and for transportation.
Satellite image said to show new Iranian military base in Syria
Satellite images of an area near Damascus appear to show an Iranian military base which could house missiles capable of hitting Israel, according to a report early Wednesday.
Judge sides with Trump on challenge to Mexico border wall
A judge who was taunted by Donald Trump during the US presidential campaign sided with the president Tuesday on a challenge to building a border wall with Mexico, removing what could have been a major obstacle to the signature campaign pledge.
EU, Arab League affirm Jerusalem must be joint capital
European Union and Arab League countries insisted on Monday that Jerusalem must be the joint capital of Israel and a future Palestinian state, after US President Donald Trump announced its embassy would be moved to the city later this year.
Shin Bet foils ISIS-inspired attack on Temple Mount
Three Arab citizens from the village of Um el-Fahm were indicted on Monday for plotting a terrorist attack on the Temple Mount in the name of Islamic State, the Shin Bet security agency announced.
US opens tough Saudi nuke talks in shadow of Iran deal
The Trump administration is opening talks with Saudi Arabia on a potentially lucrative atomic energy agreement that’s inextricably linked to an Obama-era nuclear deal with Iran. At stake: Billions of dollars in contracts for US companies and bigger questions about America’s ability to keep friend and foe alike from reaching nuclear weapons capability.
Trump Admin to Reverse Obama Deal to Loosen Sanctions on Iranian Terrorists
U.S. officials are finalizing a new effort to crackdown on Iran’s top terror organization as part of an effort to reverse sweeping sanctions originally granted by the Obama administration as part of a little known deal to enrich entities tied to the powerful Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, according to sources familiar with the effort.
Church Leaders Close the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Tax Protest
The leaders of the major Christian sects in Jerusalem closed the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built on the traditional site of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, for several hours on Sunday to protest an Israeli plan to tax their properties.
Poll: Likud gaining strength despite Netanyahu graft allegations
A poll published Saturday showed the ruling Likud party gaining strength despite the graft allegations surrounding its leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and well placed to win elections should they be held today.
Russia deploys advanced stealth jets in Syria with warning aimed at Israel
Russia has deployed two of its most advanced and sophisticated stealth jets in Syria, in a power move likely to draw US criticism, as the Pentagon expressed its alarm earlier this month over recent close calls with Russian planes in the war-torn country.
Netanyahu to invite Trump to inaugurate US embassy in Jerusalem in May
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to invite US President Donald Trump to Israel in May to inaugurate the US embassy, which Washington announced on Friday will be relocated to Jerusalem on Israel’s Independence Day, Hadashot TV news reported on Saturday.
Judge and lawyer Coordinated Ruling in Corruption Probe
A judge presiding over hearings in a major corruption case asked to be removed from her duties after Channel 10 exposed that she had coordinated rulings with a government lawyer working the hearing, the Justice ministry said Sunday.